Sulkies Return

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Already racing fans at Northlands are getting revved up for the launch of the 2003 season. The sulkies are scheduled to return Friday February 28, a week earlier than originally planned, according to a news release from the Alberta Standardbred Horse Association headquarters in Calgary.

Through the month of March, we will have Friday-Saturday racing, then in April switch to normal format of Wednesday and Friday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. There is every likelihood, however, that we will not have the short late fall meet that we have enjoyed the past two years.

Big plans are on the front burner at Northlands with the expected expansion of the present five-eighths oval to a six and a half track for the thoroughbreds, surrounding a five-eighths track for the harness horses. Thus each breed will have its own racing surface that should please both the horsemen and also Ron Grift’s track crew.

Each breed has its own preference for a surface. The thoroughbreds like a deeper cushion, and then the track is bladed of the surplus soil when the pacers come to town. This simplifies things for track maintenance for a crew that takes great pride in providing conditions that rate rave reviews from invading horsemen.

Plans also call for 500 more slot machines, doubling the number already in service. Revenue from the slots is the lifeblood of the stakes schedule for both breeds which last year enjoyed the highest purses of the track’s history.

The only dark cloud on the horizon is the outlook for racing in Calgary. At this writing, Horse Racing Alberta declined to award a 10-year license either to the incumbent Stampede Park or a new group headed by former Calgary Airport Authorities boss Ernie Caron. The only hitch in the Caron group’s application is said to hinge on its request for a 20-year license before constructing a one-mile thoroughbred track with a seven-furlong harness course inside. In order to receive HRA’s blessing, Stampede Park must make a number of improvements, including enlarging its five-furlong track.

Meanwhile, fans can enjoy simulcast racing from tracks all over the continent.

See you at the Races!